What Sundar Pichai Said About His Two Decades Working With Google

Alphabet’s CEO Sundar Pichai shared a note about his 20 years anniversary of working with the tech giant, the parent company of Google. Began as a search engine in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin while they were PhD students at Stanford University, Google, expanded its offerings to include Gmail, Google Maps, Android, Chrome browser, and numerous other services, and now the company is fourth largest tech company with a market cap of $2.144 trillion, almost as similar as Canada’s GDP in some calculations.

Pichai, who was born in Madurai of India’s Southern state Tamil Nadu on July 12, 1972, joined Google on April 26, 2004. An IIT Kharagpur and Stanford University alumnus, he joined the company as the product management and innovation head in which he led efforts for a suite of Google’s client software products, including Google Chrome and ChromeOS, as well as being largely responsible for Google Drive. Before joining Google, Pichai had worked with McKinsey & Company.

“April 26, 2004 was my first day at Google. A lot has changed since then – technology, the number of people who use our products … my hair. What hasn’t changed – the thrill I get from working at this amazing company. 20 years in, I’m still feeling lucky,” wrote Pichai on Instagram.

With a humble beginning and a remarkable journey, Pichai’s ascent to the top echelons of one of the world’s most influential companies is a testament to his exceptional talents and dedication.

He earned his Bachelor of Engineering degree from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, one of India’s pioneer engineering institutions. He pursued graduate studies at Stanford University, where he attained a Master of Science degree in Material Sciences and Engineering and later an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Initially serving in various product management and innovation roles, Pichai quickly distinguished himself with his strategic acumen and deep understanding of consumer needs. His early contributions to products like Google Toolbar and Google Chrome foreshadowed his future leadership roles within the company.

One of Pichai’s most notable contributions came with his involvement in the development and launch of Google Chrome, the company’s web browser. Under his leadership, Chrome rose to prominence, becoming one of the most widely used browsers globally.

Pichai’s stellar performance and demonstrated leadership led to his appointment as the Senior Vice President of Chrome and Apps in 2012. In this role, he oversaw Google’s suite of applications, including Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Docs, while continuing to drive innovation within the Chrome ecosystem.

It was Pichai’s ascent to the position of CEO of Google in 2015 that truly showcased his capabilities as a transformative leader. Taking the helm of one of the world’s most valuable companies, Pichai steered Google through a period of unprecedented growth and innovation. Under his leadership, Google expanded its product portfolio, ventured into new markets, and continued to push the boundaries of technology with initiatives like artificial intelligence and cloud computing.

Pichai’s tenure as CEO also saw Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., achieve new milestones, including surpassing the trillion-dollar valuation mark.

In December 2019, Pichai assumed the additional role of CEO of Alphabet Inc., succeeding Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. This move further solidified his position as one of the most influential figures in the technology sector.